Type VIII Phaser Array

The Type VIII is the phaser armament of choice for most of Starfleet's small-to medium-sized ships. While varying degrees of power and capabilities can be found from class to class - even from ship to ship - the general Type VIII operating principles remain the same and any deviations in any regard are usually negligible. This phaser type provides excellent offensive and defensive capabilities for many ship classes that, due to their size, require significant quantities of internal volume for other operations which would otherwise be consumed by larger phaser weaponry.

Originally these weapons were installed in phaser banks aboard ships like the Excelsior class and Constellation-class. Ships equipped with them today are set in the standard array package.